was on tour for this book a while ago but always forgot to update it on netgalley :,)
overall the story was really sweet and wholesome. even after a couple years, i still have fond memories of the book that might call for a revisit in the future <3
full review on my blog: https://bookedwithboba.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-girl-who-fell-beneath-sea-colored.html

I enjoyed this book more then I expected, although I didn't really have anything in mind when I first went into it. A nice standalone fantasy to get your feet wet if it's your first time with the genre. I would suggest this to someone who wants to get into fantasy but doesn't want to start with anything too heavy, but it's also fun for established fantasy readers. It really bridges the gap

I'm a bit distraught to type this, but this book fell flat for me. I actually tried it on audio too, but sort of just had to push through. See, the world is stunning; I imagine a setting of spirits and pastel colors and magic. You can imagine how gorgeous the Pinterest board is. And I WANTED to love the romance, which has the potential to be a whirlwind love story. But right from the beginning, readers are sort of thrown in without any context and expected to relate to and root for the characters. The opening scene is confusing and exemplifies an incorrect way of pitching your reader straight into the action at the very beginning, because while the main character sacrifices herself for her brother and the love of his life, I don't CARE yet. And I continued to not care about the characters as I'm dragged through their story.

Geez I hate sounding so harsh!!! Truth is, I told myself I would DNF at 50% if I didn't like it enough, and I did manage to finish it. I felt driven enough to want to see how it ended, and there were elements that emotionally engaged me, like the romance (though I wasn't necessarily convinced by its development) and some of the various side characters. But everything generally fell flat, and I lacked the emotional attachment I crave while reading. I feel like this book had so much potential, but prose and world-building can only go so far.

There's a bit of action and adventure, a bit of love, both romantic and platonic, and strong themes of found family that totally turned my heart to mush. Most of the big twists, I'll admit I did see coming, but it only added to my love of the story, more of a cheerful confirmation than anything feeling spoiled or let down.

Beautifully written fantasy that puts a new spin on a classic folktale. Loved the side characters a lot in this one. The world was expansive and magical, would definitely read more books in this universe.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this read. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book, based on a Korean fairy-tale. Many retellings focus on European-based stories, like Uprooted or Cinder. I enjoyed experiencing another cultures fairy-tales. Ultimately, the writing style seemed to be more tell than show, and it may be better suited to a younger YA audience. In today's romantasy landscape, a sweet, not spicy, romance is a bit of a rarity. The writing was poetic, the world-building was captivating, and and enough twists in the plot to keep it interesting.

I highly enjoyed this book! I read it due to multiple recommendations from friends for the author's other works, and I was not disappointed. This book made me a forever fan of her and I will definitely be looking forward to her future releases.

The Girl Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh is a lush, mesmerizing tale that weaves Korean mythology, adventure, and romance into an unforgettable underwater journey. With her lyrical prose, Oh crafts a story of destiny, courage, and the pull of the unknown as Mina navigates the depths of the Spirit Realm. The world-building is immersive, the stakes are high, and the romance? Absolutely swoon-worthy. If you love dreamy folklore, oceanic magic, and heroines who refuse to sink, this book is a must-read. 🌊✨

3.5 stars, Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This isn't just a beautiful cover.. This book is beautiful as well. The prose, the story, the mythical past, I enjoyed this more than anything. Axie Oh has continued long and successful career ahead of her. FIVE STARS!

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh is a magical, beautifully written fantasy that feels like stepping into a dream. Inspired by Korean mythology, it follows Mina, a brave girl who sacrifices herself to the Sea God to save her people—only to find out the god is in an enchanted sleep, and the Spirit Realm is full of secrets.

The world-building is stunning, with spirits, gods, and magical creatures filling the pages. Mina is a fantastic protagonist—strong-willed, compassionate, and willing to take charge of her destiny. The other characters, like Shin and the other spirits, add so much heart and humor.

Many times in fantasy novels it's hard to follow the characters especially when there are too many spirits and magical creatures introduced at the same time, but in this novel that's not the case. The narrative made it super easy to get lost in the story. The romance is sweet but doesn’t overshadow Mina’s journey.

The downside of the story is how it was edited especially towards the end. I feel like the ending didn't necessarily lend to the narrative, and could have easily been eliminated in some parts.

Overall, the story is beautifully written, simple, and enjoyable. It was fast-paced and didn't delve too much into the Spirit Realm’s politics and history, which I enjoyed, because sometimes stories can get too convoluted.

Perfect for fans of mythology retellings, this is was a cozy fantasy escape!

I read this awhile ago so I can't remember exact details besides the main character sacrifices herself for her family and goes beneath the sea. She goes on adventures and help the other people who live in the water while also falling for one of them. I remember being very satisfied at the end and looking forward to reading more Asian fantasies from this author.

I really enjoyed this book. It had a fairy tale feeling. It had me really engrooed in Mina's journey through the spirt realm . My main criticism was that I wish there had been more time spent on the main characters getting to know each other before a relationship developed. It seemed liked they didn't like each other and then they did with no real reason for the change of heart. I liked both characters so it just bothered me a little. Overall a fun read

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh is a magical, adventure-packed story that blends Korean mythology with a fresh and exciting plot. The book follows Mina, a girl who sacrifices herself to save her brother and end up in the Spirit Realm, where she’s thrown into a world of gods, monsters, and mystery. She has to find a way to stop a deadly storm that’s threatening her people, and the only way to do that is by figuring out what’s going wrong in the spirit world.

The world-building in this book is amazing. The underwater setting is rich and full of vibrant details, and the mix of magic and folklore makes the story feel like a dream. Mina is a strong, determined character, and you really feel for her as she faces dangerous challenges and learns about herself along the way. The romance between Mina and the Sea God is slow-burn and adds a nice emotional layer to the story, without overshadowing the bigger plot.

The pacing is just right! There’s enough action and twists to keep you hooked, but it also takes time to explore the characters and their growth. The book also touches on themes like sacrifice, family, and finding strength in unexpected places.

I genuinely thought I was going to love this one. My friends all thought that I would love this one. But as much as I love a dark, fairytale, enemies to lovers situation, I think this one fell on the atmospheric & dreamy scale in a way that I have a hard time connecting with. For me, the pacing was too slow, and while the characters were interesting and unique, I didn't feel like I had an emotional connection with them.

I would recommend The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea for fans of Howl's Moving Castle!

I actually recently reread this. I liked it better on the reread than the first time through. The first time I was really hung up on how this really felt like some Spirited Away fanfiction. Haku for days. Overall the setting was nice and atmospheric. I would like young, female MCs to need less saving from all their poorly thought out decisions.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

It took me a second to get to this title but I'm glad I finally made it because I ended up really enjoying this and wow, sometimes it feels hard to find a book where I really LOVE the romance. But this HAD me.

I will say tho, that my least favorite moments were the ones that nearly overlapped with Miyazaki's Spirited Away, which was a big chunk of the start. Idk why since that's in my top 3 movies (probably, if I had a top 3 list, lol).

Regardless, the book did charm me by the end. I thought the ending was great, the mythology engaging, and the characters fun and inspiring (Mina's fire was especially fire ;) hehe)

What a lovely, unexpected read. We go into the early chapters with some clear expectations of what is coming. And many of those expectations are ultimately confirmed. But the journey to that point is lovely and almost meandering. The cast of characters is odd but distinct. For all their magical nature they feel very real and consistent. Its incredibly atmospheric and that alone makes it worth a look.

4.5 stars, rounded up

Wow, I kinda hate myself for not reading this sooner!

This story is fantastic and magical, a beautifully woven narrative with its own uniquely creative take on the Korean folktale "The Tale of Shim Cheong."

THE GIRL WHO FELL BENEATH THE SEA tells the story of Mina, who gives herself as a bride sacrifice to the Sea God, in order to appease him (and stop the storms that ravage her land) and take the place of her brother's beloved Shim Cheong. There in the Spirit Real, Mina meets a cast of spirits and gods that help her on her way to find and wake the Sea God.

Axie Oh is very gifted storyteller, and this book engaged me from beginning to end. It's a captivating story of duty and sacrifice, family and fate. The worldbuilding and writing are utterly mesmerizing. A new book I'm adding to my "books to recommend" arsenal.

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

The first thing that drew me in was the beautiful cover of this book. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is stunning, from the cover to the writing inside. Once I started, I couldn't stop reading.

Axie Oh is an excellent author, and this story is just impeccable. The world building and character building are both incredible, and you fall in love with each and every aspect of the story along the way.

I give this read an easy 5 stars, and would give more if it were possible. One of my top reads.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher, and also thank you to the author for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.